Method and device for notifying reference signal configuration information

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method and a device for notifying reference signal configuration information, and relate to the field of communications technologies. The method includes: coding, according to channel state information-reference signal (CSI-RS) configuration information, the CSI-RS configuration information, to obtain a CSI-RS configuration information code; storing a mapping relation between the CSI-RS configuration information code and the CSI-RS configuration information, and sending the mapping relation to a UE for storage; searching, in the stored mapping relation between the CSI-RS configuration information code and the CSI-RS configuration information, for a CSI-RS configuration information code corresponding to CSI-RS configuration information to be notified; and sending the found CSI-RS configuration information code to the UE, so that the UE determines CSI-RS configuration information according to the received CSI-RS configuration information code and the mapping relation between the CSI-RS configuration information code and the CSI-RS configuration information.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of Internation Application No.PCT/CN2011/074890, filed on May 30, 2011, which claims priority toChinese Patent Application No. 201010244548.2, filed on Aug. 2, 2010,both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of communicationstechnologies, and in particular, to a method and a device for notifyingreference signal configuration information.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In a wireless communication system, a network device needs to notify aterminal UE (User Equipment, user equipment) in a coverage area ofreference signal configuration information, so that the UE can performdownlink channel estimation according to the reference signalconfiguration information, thus improving bit error performance of thesystem.

The prior art discloses a manner of notifying the UE of CRS (CommonReference Signal, common reference signal) configuration information. Inpractical application, the network device notifies the UE of a pilotpattern through a manner of performing a shift (shift) operation on animplicit mapping that binds the pilot pattern of a downlink CRS with acell identifier, and further, implicitly notifies the UE of the numberof ports of the CRS through SIB (System Information Block, systeminformation block) signaling.

In the process of implementing embodiments of the present invention, theinventor finds that the prior art has at least the followingdisadvantages:

In the prior art, because the UE is merely notified of the CRSconfiguration information, through the implicit mapping that binds thepilot pattern with the cell identifier, the number of downlink channelsof different cells that can be distinguished by the UE is limited by thenumber of the cell identifiers, and in a CoMP (Coordinated MultipointProcessing, coordinated multipoint processing) system, CRSs in one CoMPmeasurement set (including multiple possible CoMP collaborative cells)may collide with each other.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to prevent reference signals of multiple cells from collidingwith each other when a signaling overhead is small, embodiments of thepresent invention provide a method and a device for notifying referencesignal configuration information. The technical solutions are asfollows.

According to one aspect, a method for notifying reference signalconfiguration information is provided, where the method includes:

coding, according to channel state information-reference signal (CSI-RS)configuration information, the CSI-RS configuration information, toobtain a CSI-RS configuration information code, where the CSI-RSconfiguration information includes at least the number of ports, a pilotpattern, a pilot period and a sub-frame offset;

storing a mapping relation between the CSI-RS configuration informationcode and the CSI-RS configuration information, and sending the mappingrelation between the CSI-RS configuration information code and theCSI-RS configuration information to a user equipment (UE) for storage;

determining CSI-RS configuration information to be notified, andsearching, in the stored mapping relation between the CSI-RSconfiguration information code and the CSI-RS configuration information,for a CSI-RS configuration information code corresponding to the CSI-RSconfiguration information to be notified; and sending the found CSI-RSconfiguration information code to the UE, so that the UE determinesCSI-RS configuration information according to the received CSI-RSconfiguration information code and the mapping relation between theCSI-RS configuration information code and the CSI-RS configurationinformation, where the mapping relation between the CSI-RS configurationinformation code and the CSI-RS configuration information is stored bythe UE.

According to another aspect, a device for notifying reference signalconfiguration information is provided, where the device includes:

a coding module, configured to code, according to channel stateinformation-reference signal (CSI-RS) configuration information, theCSI-RS configuration information, to obtain a CSI-RS configurationinformation code, where the CSI-RS configuration information includes atleast the number of ports, a pilot pattern, a pilot period and asub-frame offset;

a storing module, configured to store a mapping relation between theCSI-RS configuration information code obtained by the coding module andthe CSI-RS configuration information;

a first sending module, configured to send the mapping relation betweenthe CSI-RS configuration information code and the CSI-RS configurationinformation, where the mapping relation between the CSI-RS configurationinformation code and the CSI-RS configuration information is stored bythe storing module, to a user equipment (UE) for storage;

a searching module, configured to determine CSI-RS configurationinformation to be notified, and searching, in the mapping relationbetween the CSI-RS configuration information code and the CSI-RSconfiguration information, for a CSI-RS configuration information codecorresponding to the CSI-RS configuration information to be notified,where the mapping relation between the CSI-RS configuration informationcode and the CSI-RS configuration information is stored by the storingmodule; and

a second sending module, configured to send the CSI-RS configurationinformation code found by the searching module to the UE, so that the UEdetermines CSI-RS configuration information according to the receivedCSI-RS configuration information code and the mapping relation betweenthe CSI-RS configuration information code and the CSI-RS configurationinformation, where the mapping relation between the CSI-RS configurationinformation code and the CSI-RS configuration information is pre-storedby the UE.

The technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the presentinvention have the following beneficial effects:

Because the CSI-RS is characterized by a small overhead, a long period,a high reuse factor, and low port pilot patterns nested in a high portpilot pattern, the CSI-RS configuration information is notified to theUE in the form of the CSI-RS configuration information code, so that theUE determines the CSI-RS configuration information according to theCSI-RS configuration information code, thus not only lowering theoverhead, but also ensuring that the CSI-RSs of multiple cells do notcollide with each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To illustrate the technical solutions according to the embodiments ofthe present invention more clearly, accompanying drawings required fordescribing the embodiments are introduced briefly in the following.Apparently, the accompanying drawings in the following description areonly some embodiments of the present invention, and persons of ordinaryskill in the art may further obtain other drawings from the accompanyingdrawings without creative efforts.

FIG. 1 is a flow chart of a method for notifying reference signalconfiguration information according to Embodiment 1 of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a method for notifying reference signalconfiguration information according to Embodiment 2 of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a first type of pilot patternsaccording to Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a second type of pilot patternsaccording to Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a third type of pilot patternsaccording to Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a fourth type of pilot patternsaccording to Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of a device for notifyingreference signal configuration information according to Embodiment 3 ofthe present invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic structural diagram of a first type of a codingmodule according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a schematic structural diagram of a second type of a codingmodule according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a schematic structural diagram of a third type of a codingmodule according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a schematic structural diagram of a fourth type of a codingmodule according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a schematic structural diagram of a fifth type of a codingmodule according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention; and

FIG. 13 is a schematic structural diagram of a sixth type of a codingmodule according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

In order to make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages ofthe present invention more clearly, embodiments of the present inventionare further described in detail below with reference to the accompanyingdrawings.

Embodiment 1

Referring to FIG. 1, this embodiment provides a method for notifyingreference signal configuration information, where a process of themethod is specifically as follows:

101: Code, according to CSI (Channel State Information, channel stateinformation)-RS (Reference Signal, reference signal) configurationinformation, the CSI-RS configuration information, to obtain a CSI-RSconfiguration information code, where the CSI-RS configurationinformation includes at least the number of ports, a pilot pattern, apilot period and a sub-frame offset.

102: Store a mapping relation between the CSI-RS configurationinformation code and the CSI-RS configuration information, and send themapping relation between the CSI-RS configuration information code andthe CSI-RS configuration information to a UE for storage.

103: Determine CSI-RS configuration information to be notified, andsearch, in the stored mapping relation between the CSI-RS configurationinformation code and the CSI-RS configuration information, for a CSI-RSconfiguration information code corresponding to the CSI-RS configurationinformation to be notified.

104: Send the found CSI-RS configuration information code to the UE, sothat the UE determines CSI-RS configuration information according to thereceived CSI-RS configuration information code and the mapping relationbetween the CSI-RS configuration information code and the CSI-RSconfiguration information, where the mapping relation between the CSI-RSconfiguration information code and the CSI-RS configuration informationis stored by the UE.

In the method provided by this embodiment, because the CSI-RS ischaracterized by a small overhead, a long period, a high reuse factor,and low port pilot patterns nested in a high port pilot pattern, theCSI-RS configuration information is notified to the UE in the form ofthe CSI-RS configuration information code, so that the UE determines theCSI-RS configuration information according to the CSI-RS configurationinformation code, thus not only lowering the overhead, but also ensuringthat the CSI-RSs of multiple cells do not collide with each other.

Embodiment 2

This embodiment provides a method for notifying reference signalconfiguration information. Because a CSI-RS is characterized by a smalloverhead, a long period, a high reuse factor, and low port pilotpatterns nested in a high port pilot pattern, in this embodiment, CSI-RSconfiguration information is coded, and the CSI-RS configurationinformation is notified to a UE in the form of a CSI-RS configurationinformation code, so that the UE determines CSI-RS configurationinformation, thus not only lowering an overhead, but also ensuring thatCSI-RSs of multiple cells do not collide with each other.

A device for notifying reference signal configuration information is anetwork device, and the CSI-RS configuration information includes, butis not limited to, the number of ports, a pilot pattern, a pilot periodand a sub-frame offset.

If a CSI-RS of a cell collides with a data symbol sent by a stronginterfering cell, the network device may require that at a position ofthe CSI-RS sent by the cell, strong interfering cells all perform datamuting (muting) processing so as to avoid interfering with a referencesignal. In this case, the cell needs to notify every strong interferingcell of the reference signal position of the CSI-RS (including the pilotperiod and the pilot pattern). Additionally, the network device furtherneeds to notify the UE of a data muting position of the CSI-RS, so thatthe UE assumes that no data symbol is transmitted at this position, areceiver does not detect data at this position, and the UE estimates adownlink channel corresponding to the cell at this position. In the casethat the network device supports a data muting technology, the CSI-RSconfiguration information not only includes the number of ports, thepilot pattern, the pilot period and the sub-frame offset, but alsoincludes the data muting position.

If the network device further supports partial data muting on the basisof supporting data muting, the network device also needs to notify theUE of a data muting period and a data muting offset. In this case, theCSI-RS configuration information not only includes the number of ports,the pilot pattern, the pilot period, the sub-frame offset and the datamuting position, but also includes the data muting period and the datamuting offset.

An example that the network device not only supports the data mutingtechnology but also supports a partial data muting technology is givenbelow to illustrate the method provided by this embodiment in detail. Inthis case, the CSI-RS configuration information not only includes thenumber of ports, the pilot pattern, the pilot period, the sub-frameoffset and the data muting position, but also includes the data mutingperiod and the data muting offset. Referring to FIG. 2, a process of themethod provided by this embodiment is specifically as follows:

201: The network device performs correlative coding on the number ofports and the pilot pattern, to obtain a first coding result.

The number of ports of the CSI-RS may be 2, 4 or 8, and possible pilotpatterns are as shown in Table 1 corresponding to different numbers ofports and different sub-frame configurations.

TABLE 1 The Number of Ports of the CSI-RS 2 4 8 The available number ofpilot patterns of the CSI-RS for an 20 10 5 ordinary CP The availablenumber of pilot patterns of the CSI-RS for an 32 16 8 ordinary CP w/oCRS ports 2/3 The available number of pilot patterns of the CSI-RS foran 16 8 4 extended CP The available number of pilot patterns of theCSI-RS for an 28 14 7 extended CP w/o CRS ports 2/3

As shown in Table 1, the possible pilot patterns corresponding todifferent numbers of ports may respectively be 32 types (2 ports), 16types (4 ports), and 8 types (8 ports) at most. In general, 32+16+8=56types of possible combinations of the number of ports and the pilotpatterns exist at most. When the correlative coding is performed on thenumber of ports and the pilot pattern, any one of the following twomanners may be adopted.

In a first manner, joint coding is performed on the number of ports andthe pilot pattern by using 6 bits.

6-bit signaling may indicate 64 types of states, in which any 56 typesof states may be used and are one-to-one corresponding to the 56 typesof combinations of the number of ports and the pilot patterns, and amapping table is established. Therefore, the UE may obtain the number ofports of the CSI-RS and the pilot pattern of the CSI-RS throughreceiving the 6-bit signaling and looking up in the mapping table.

Specifically, considering that when the number of ports is respectively2, 4 or 8, the pilot pattern of the CSI-RS has the nesting property,that is, each 8-port pilot pattern may be nested with two 4-port pilotpatterns, and each 4-port pilot pattern may be nested with two 2-portpilot patterns, if the 8-port pilot pattern is divided into a front halfpart and a rear half part, each part forms a 4-port pilot pattern; andif the 4-port pilot pattern is divided into a front half part and a rearhalf part, each part forms a 2-port pilot pattern. Based on such nestingproperty, the mapping relation between the number of ports and the pilotpattern may be determined through the following two steps.

In a first step, a corresponding relation between the three leastsignificant bits and eight types of the 8-port pilot patterns isestablished. The corresponding relation between the three leastsignificant bits and the 8-port pilot patterns is not specificallylimited in this embodiment, and the corresponding relation shown inTable 2 is only used as an example for illustration.

TABLE 2 8-port Pilot Pattern Code First type of the 8-port pilot pattern000 Second type of the 8-port pilot pattern 001 Third type of the 8-portpilot pattern 010 Fourth type of the 8-port pilot pattern 011 Fifth typeof the 8-port pilot pattern 100 Sixth type of the 8-port pilot pattern101 Seventh type of the 8-port pilot pattern 110 Eighth type of the8-port pilot pattern 111

When the number of ports is 2 or 4, the three least significant bitsindicate the 8-port pilot pattern that can be nested with the designatedpilot patterns. The serial numbers of the corresponding 8-port pilotpatterns in the mapping table are as shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. 6.

In a second step, when the number of ports is 8, the three mostsignificant bits are 110.

When the number of ports is 4, the two most significant bits are 10, andthe 3^(rd) bit indicates the position of the 4-port pilot pattern in thenested 8-port pilot pattern, where 0 indicates the front half part and 1indicates the rear half part.

When the number of ports is 2, the one most significant bit is 0, andthe 2^(nd) bit indicates the position of the 2-port pilot pattern in thenested 4-port pilot pattern, where 0 indicates the front half part and 1indicates the rear half part.

If no CSI-RS exists, “111111” may be used for marking, and the specificmapping relation is as shown in Table 3.

TABLE 3 Bit 1^(st) 2^(nd) 3^(rd) 4^(th) 5^(th) 6^(th) 2 ports 0 0: thefront half 0: the front half part of the x x x part of the 8-portpattern 4-port pattern 1: the rear half part of the 1: the rear half8-port pattern part of the 4-port pattern 4 ports 1 0 0: the front halfpart of the x x x 8-port pattern 1: the rear half part of the 8-portpattern 8 ports 1 1 0 x x x No 1 1 1 1 1 1 CSI-RS

The “x” in the three least significant bits in Table 3 indicates acorresponding relation established with the eight types of the 8-portpilot patterns, and in an example that a joint coding result of thenumber of ports and the pilot pattern is 100101, because the three mostsignificant bits in the coding result are 100, it can be seen from Table3 that, the number of ports corresponding to the coding result is 4, andthe 4 ports form the front half part of the 8-port pattern. Further,because the three least significant bits in the coding result are 101,it can be seen from Table 2 that, the fifth type of the 8-port pilotpattern is indicated.

In a second manner, the number of ports and the pilot pattern arerespectively coded.

In practical application, the number of ports is implicitly encoded to aCRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check, cyclic redundancy check) code of an x^(th)SIB, and the pilot pattern is indicated by 5-bit signaling.

The x^(th) system information block is a system information block usedto configure CSI-RS information. Based on the nesting property of theCSI-RS, a mapping relation between the 5-bit signaling and the pilotpattern may be obtained through the following two steps.

In a first step, a one-to-one corresponding relation is establishedbetween the three least significant bits and the eight types of the8-port pilot patterns, and when the number of ports is 2 or 4, the threebits indicate the 8-port pilot pattern in which the designated pilotpatterns can be nested.

In a second step, when the number of ports is 8, the two mostsignificant bits are any combination of 0 and 1.

When the number of ports is 4, the one most significant bit is any oneof 0 and 1, and the 2^(nd) bit indicates the position of the 4-portpilot pattern in the nested 8-port pilot pattern, where 0 indicates thefront half part and 1 indicates the rear half part.

When the number of ports is 2, the 1^(st) bit indicates the position ofthe 2-port pilot pattern in the nested 4-port pilot pattern, where 0indicates the front half part and 1 indicates the rear half part.

In this embodiment, the pilot pattern may be divided into differentpilot pattern groups according to the front half part and the rear halfpart. For example, the 2-port pilot pattern may be divided into twopilot pattern groups according to the front half part and the rear halfpart of the 4-port pilot pattern, and in this case, the 2″ bit in thefirst manner of performing correlative coding on the number of ports andthe pilot pattern and the 1^(st) bit in the second manner may indicatethe pilot pattern group to which the pilot pattern belongs.

Further, the foregoing two pilot pattern groups are subdivided into fourpilot pattern groups according to the front half part and the rear halfpart of the 8-port pilot pattern, and in this case, the 2^(nd) bit andthe 3^(rd) bit in the first manner and the 1^(st) bit and the 2^(nd) bitin the second manner may indicate the pilot pattern group to which thepilot pattern belongs. In another example, the 4-port pilot pattern maybe divided into two pilot pattern groups according to the front halfpart and the rear half part of the 8-port pilot pattern, and in thiscase, the 3^(rd) bit in the first manner and the 2^(nd) bit in thesecond manner may indicate the pilot pattern group to which the pilotpattern belongs.

It should be noted that, the front half part of the 8-port pilot patternin this embodiment refers to the leading part of the 8-port pilotpattern when the 8-port pilot pattern is divided into two partsaccording to the 4-port pilot patterns in which the 8-port pilot patternis nested, and may be the front half part of the entire 8-port pilotpattern, and may also be the front half part of each half of the 8-portpilot pattern. For example, the pilot pattern labeled 0 in FIG. 3 hasfour rows from top to bottom, the first two rows may be referred to asthe front half part, or the first row in the first two rows and thefirst row in the following two rows are collectively referred to as thefront half part, which is not specifically limited in this embodiment.The definition of the front half part of the 4-port pilot pattern is thesame as that of the front half part of the 8-port pilot period, which isalso not specifically limited in this embodiment. No matter which manneris adopted to perform the correlative coding on the number of ports andthe pilot pattern, the obtained coding result is collectively referredto as the first coding result, and to specify the number of ports andthe pilot pattern that correspond to each coding result, the networkdevice also needs to establish a corresponding relation between thefirst coding result and the number of ports and the pilot pattern afterobtaining the first coding result.

202: Perform correlative coding on the pilot period and the sub-frameoffset to obtain a second coding result.

The pilot period of the CSI-RS is a multiple of 5 ms. Assume that theperiod of the CSI-RS is 5N ms, where N is a positive integer and thevalue of N is determined by the R10 specification, and each millisecondcorresponds to one sub-frame. The sub-frame offset refers to a sub-frameoffset of the sub-frame, where the sub-frame carries the CSI-RS,relative to a reference sub-frame (that is, the first sub-frame in the5N sub-frames) in a certain period of the CSI-RS. Because it isspecified in the R10 specification that the 0^(th) and the 4^(th)sub-frame of every five sub-frames may need to carry information such asa synchronous channel, a broadcast channel, and a paging channel, thesesub-frames cannot carry the CSI-RS, so that 3N types of possiblesub-frame offsets corresponding to the 5N ms period of the CSI-RS existat most.

The pilot period of the CSI-RS and the sub-frame offset of the CSI-RSmay be coded in any one of the following two manners.

In a first manner, the pilot period of the CSI-RS and the sub-frameoffset of the CSI-RS are respectively coded.

Assume that the value of N is {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8}, and 3 bits areneeded to indicate the period of the CSI-RS. For the sub-frame offset,when N=8, 24 types of possible sub-frame offsets exist at most, and 5bits are needed to indicate the sub-frame offset of the CSI-RS.Altogether 3+5=8 bits are needed to indicate the pilot period of theCSI-RS and the sub-frame offset of the CSI-RS.

In a second manner, joint coding is performed on the pilot period of theCSI-RS and the sub-frame offset of the CSI-RS.

Assume that the value of N is {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8}, and 3 bits areneeded to indicate the period of the CSI-RS. Corresponding to each typeof the pilot period of the CSI-RS, the possible sub-frame offsets arerespectively {3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24}, altogether3+6+9+12+15+18+21+24=108 types of different combinations of the pilotperiods and the sub-frame offsets exist, and altogether 7 bits areneeded to indicate the pilot period of the CSI-RS and the sub-frameoffset of the CSI-RS. The 7 bits may have 128 types of states, in whichany 108 types of states may be selected and are one-to-one correspondingto the 108 types of combinations of the pilot periods and the sub-frameoffsets, and a mapping table between the 108 types of states and the 108types of combinations of the pilot periods and the sub-frame offsets isestablished. After receiving the 7 bits, the UE may obtain correspondingpilot period and sub-frame offset information through looking up in thetable.

Preferably, in order to further reduce a signaling overhead, thepossible values of the sub-frame offset may be limited. For example, itis required that only the first five sub-frames of every 5N sub-framesmay carry the CSI-RS, and in this case, for any pilot period of theCSI-RS, three possible values of the sub-frame offset exist at most,that is, { 1, 2, 3}. In this case, the pilot period of the CSI-RS andthe sub-frame offset of the CSI-RS may also be coded through theforegoing two manners. When the first manner is used for coding, 3+2=5bits are needed; and when the second manner is used for coding, 5 bitsare needed.

The possible values of N are diversified, and the pilot period of theCSI-RS and the sub-frame offset of the CSI-RS may be coded through theforegoing two manners. The specific value of N is not limited in thisembodiment.

No matter which manner is adopted to perform the correlative coding onthe number of ports and the pilot pattern, the obtained coding result iscollectively referred to as the second coding result, and in order tospecify the pilot period and the specific sub-frame offset thatcorrespond to each coding result, the network device also needs toestablish a corresponding relation between the second coding result andthe pilot period and the sub-frame offset after obtaining the secondcoding result.

203: Code the data muting position to obtain a third coding result.

In this step, the network device indicates, by using a bitmap (bitmap)manner, the position of a muted RE (Resource Element, resource element)in an OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing, orthogonalfrequency division multiplexing) symbol where a serving cell CSI-RS islocated.

In practical application, part of the position information forperforming data muting may be implicitly carried in the positioninformation of the serving cell CSI-RS. Specifically, the serving cellmay only perform data muting on the OFDM symbol and the sub-framecarrying the CSI-RS, so that the sub-frame offset of data muting is thesame as the sub-frame offset of the CSI-RS, and does not need to beseparately notified; and the position of the OFDM symbol of data mutingis the same as the OFDM symbol where the pilot pattern of the CSI-RS islocated, and also does not need to be separately notified.

Specifically, in an example that the network device uses 12 bits toindicate, in the bitmap manner, the position of the muted RE in the OFDMsymbol where the serving cell CSI-RS is located, the 12 bits indicatingthe muted RE respectively correspond to the twelve 2-port pilot patternson the same OFDM symbol, as shown in the 9^(th) and the 10^(th) OFDMsymbols in FIG. 3, where each pilot pattern includes a pair of REs, abit being 1 indicates that the corresponding RE needs to be muted, and abit being 0 indicates that the corresponding RE does not need to bemuted.

To further reduce the overhead, the network device may use K bits toindicate, in the bitmap manner, the position of the muted RE in the OFDMsymbol where the serving cell CSI-RS is located, where K≦12. In thiscase, K is determined by factors such as the maximum number of pilotpatterns on the OFDM symbol carrying the serving cell CSI-RS, the mutingrange, and the muting pilot pattern.

Taking FIG. 3 as an example, if the serving cell CSI-RS is at the 5^(th)and the 6^(th) OFDM symbols, and the OFDM symbols include four types of2-port pilot patterns, then K may be set to 4, and in this case, thefour bits indicating the muted RE respectively correspond to the four2-port pilot patterns on the 5^(th) and the 6^(th) OFDM symbols, where abit being 1 indicates that the corresponding RE needs to be muted, and abit being 0 indicates that the corresponding RE does not need to bemuted.

If the network side specifies the muting set or muting range, the datamuting may only occur in the muting set or muting range to which theserving cell CSI-RS belongs, and in this case, the muting set or mutingrange may be notified in other manners, which is not specificallylimited in the embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 3,if the serving cell CSI-RS is on the 9^(th) and the 10^(th) OFDMsymbols, the muting range is limited in the RE labeled 2, and these REsinclude four types of 2-port pilot patterns, K may be set to 4, and inthis case, the four bits indicating the muted RE respectively correspondto the four 2-port pilot patterns included in the RE labeled 2 on the9^(th) and the 10^(th) OFDM symbols, where a bit being 1 indicates thatthe corresponding RE needs to be muted, and a bit being 0 indicates thatthe corresponding RE does not need to be muted.

Taking FIG. 3 as an example, if the serving cell CSI-RS is on the 9^(th)and the 10^(th) OFDM symbols, and the OFDM symbols include six types of4-port pilot patterns, K may be set to 6, and in this case, the 6 bitsindicating the muted RE respectively correspond to the six 4-port pilotpatterns on the 9^(th) and the 10^(th) OFDM symbols, where each pilotpattern includes two pairs of REs, a bit being 1 indicates that thecorresponding RE needs to be muted, and a bit being 0 indicates that thecorresponding RE does not need to be muted.

The possible values of K are diversified, and the position of the mutedRE in the OFDM symbol where the serving cell CSI-RS is located may beindicated in the bitmap manner. The specific value of K is not limitedin this embodiment.

No matter which manner is used to code the data muting position, theobtained coding result is collectively referred to as the third codingresult, and in order to specify the data muting position correspondingto each coding result, the network device also needs to establish acorresponding relation between the third coding result and the datamuting position after obtaining the third coding result.

204: Perform correlative coding on the data muting period and the datamuting offset, to obtain a fourth coding result.

In this step, the partial data muting refers to not muting all the dataREs that collide with the CSI-RS, for example, the CSI-RS is sent every5 ms, and the data muting occurs every 15 ms; in this case, the networkdevice also needs to notify the UE of the data muting period and thedata muting sub-frame offset. Because the data muting may only beperformed on the OFDM symbol and the sub-frame carrying the CSI-RS, thedata muting period is a positive integer multiple of the period of theCSI-RS, and assume that the data muting period is 5 NM ms. In the periodof 5 NM ms, the network device may send the CSI-RS for M times, and thedata muting may occur on the CSI-RS sub-frame sent at any time, so thatthe offset of data muting, that is, the data muting offset, also needsto be notified.

The data muting period and the data muting offset may be coded by usingany one of the following two manners.

In a first manner, the data muting period and the data muting offset arerespectively coded.

Assume that the value of M is {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}, and 3 bits are needed toindicate the data muting period of the CSI-RS. For the data mutingoffset, when N=5, 5 types of possible data muting offsets exist at most,and 3 bits are needed to indicate the data muting offset of the CSI-RS.

Altogether 3+3=6 bits are needed to indicate the data muting period ofthe CSI-RS and the data muting offset of the CSI-RS.

In a second manner, joint coding is performed on the data muting periodand the data muting offset.

Assume that the value of M is {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}, and corresponding to eachtype of the data muting period, the possible data muting offsets arerespectively {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}, altogether 1+2+3+4+5=15 types of differentcombinations of the data muting periods and the data muting offsetsexist, and 4 bits are needed to indicate the data muting period of theCSI-RS and the data muting offset of the CSI-RS. The 4 bits may have 16types of states, in which any 15 types of states may be selected and areone-to-one corresponding to the 15 types of combinations of the datamuting periods and the data muting offsets, and a mapping table betweenthe 15 types of states and the 15 types of combinations of the datamuting periods and the data muting offsets is established. Afterreceiving the 4 bits, the UE may obtain the corresponding data mutingperiod and data muting offset information through looking up in thetable.

Preferably, in order to further reduce the signaling overhead, thepossible values of the data muting offset are limited. For example, inthe period of 5 NM ms, the network device may send the CSI-RS for Mtimes, and the data muting may only occur on the CSI-RS sub-frame sentat the first time; in this case, for any data muting period, only onepossible value of the data muting offset exists, and the muting offsetdoes not need to be notified. In this case, only the data muting periodneeds to be coded, and assuming that the value of M is {1, 2, 3, 4, 5},3 bits are needed.

The possible values of M are diversified, and the data muting period ofthe CSI-RS and the data muting offset of the CSI-RS may be coded throughthe foregoing two manners. In this embodiment, the specific values of Mand N are not limited.

No matter which manner is used to perform correlative coding on the datamuting period and the data muting offset, the obtained coding result iscollectively referred to as the fourth coding result, and in order tospecify the data muting period and the data muting offset thatcorrespond to each coding result, the network device also needs toestablish a corresponding relation between the fourth coding result andthe data muting period and the data muting offset after obtaining thefourth coding result.

Further, through the foregoing steps 201 to 204, after the networkdevice obtains the first, second, third and fourth coding results, inorder to avoid repeatedly performing the coding operation when notifyingthe CSI-RS configuration information each time, the network device alsoneeds to store the corresponding relation between the first codingresult and the number of ports and the pilot pattern, the correspondingrelation between the second coding result and the pilot period and thesub-frame offset, the corresponding relation between the third codingresult and the data muting position, and the corresponding relationbetween the fourth coding result and the data muting period and the datamuting offset, so that after determining CSI-RS configurationinformation to be notified, the network device only needs to search, inthe stored mapping relation, for a CSI-RS configuration information codecorresponding to the CSI-RS configuration information to be notified,and send the CSI-RS configuration information code to the UE.

205: Notify the UE of the CSI-RS configuration information code througha downlink channel, where the CSI-RS configuration information code isany coding result in the first coding results, any coding result in thesecond coding results, any coding result in the third coding results andany coding result in the fourth coding results.

In this step, in order to enable the UE that receives the CSI-RSconfiguration information code to determine, according to the receivedCSI-RS configuration information code, the corresponding CSI-RSconfiguration information, the network device also needs to send themapping relation to the UE for storage after the network device storesthe mapping relation between the CSI-RS configuration information codeand the CSI-RS configuration information, so that the UE determinesCSI-RS configuration information according to the received CSI-RSconfiguration information code and the mapping relation between theCSI-RS configuration information code and the CSI-RS configurationinformation, where the mapping relation between the CSI-RS configurationinformation code and the CSI-RS configuration information is stored bythe UE.

Specifically, manners for sending the CSI-RS configuration informationcode may include, but not limited to, the following:

In a first manner, add a bit used to carry the CSI-RS configurationinformation code in a system information block of a broadcast channel,for example, add a corresponding bit used to carry the CSI-RSinformation in the second system information block (SIB2) of thebroadcast channel.

In a second manner, use a remaining bit in an MIB (Master InformationBlock, master information block) to carry the CSI-RS configurationinformation code in the broadcast channel, for example, use 10 remainingbits in the master information block to carry the CSI-RS information inthe broadcast channel.

In a third manner, define a new system information block used to carrythe CSI-RS configuration information code in the broadcast channel, forexample, define the x^(th) system information block (SIBx) used to carrythe CSI-RS information in the broadcast channel, where information ofthe number of ports may be implicitly encoded to the CRC of the SIBx,and the specific value of x is not limited in this embodiment.

In a fourth manner, a unicast channel is used to carry the CSI-RSconfiguration information code, for example, a downlink control is usedchannel to carry the CSI-RS configuration information.

Till now, after the CSI-RS configuration information code is notified tothe UE through a downlink channel, the UE may determine, according tothe CSI-RS configuration information code and the mapping relationbetween the CSI-RS configuration information code and the CSI-RSconfiguration information, where the mapping relation between the CSI-RSconfiguration information code and the CSI-RS configuration informationis stored by the UE, the specific CSI-RS configuration information sentby the network device, and determine, according to the CSI-RSconfiguration information, the position of the CSI-RS, thus performingoperations such as downlink channel estimation.

It should be noted that, the “1” and “0” in the coding manners describedin the foregoing steps may be equivalently replaced, which is notspecifically limited in this embodiment.

Further, in steps 201 to 204, combined coding is performed on all theinformation in the CSI-RS configuration information to code the CSI-RSconfiguration information, and in practical application, joint codingmay also be performed on all the information in the CSI-RS configurationinformation.

When the CSI-RS configuration information includes the number of ports,the pilot pattern, the pilot period and the sub-frame offset, jointcoding may be performed on the number of ports, the pilot pattern, thepilot period and the sub-frame offset that are in the CSI-RSconfiguration information, a first joint coding result is obtained, anda mapping relation between the first joint coding result and the numberof ports, the pilot pattern, the pilot period and the sub-frame offsetthat are in the CSI-RS configuration information is established, wherethe CSI-RS configuration information code sent to the UE is one of thefirst joint coding results.

When the network device supports the data muting technology, and theCSI-RS configuration information not only includes the number of ports,the pilot pattern, the pilot period and the sub-frame offset, but alsoincludes the data muting position, joint coding is performed on thenumber of ports, the pilot pattern, the pilot period, the sub-frameoffset and the data muting position that are in the CSI-RS configurationinformation, a second joint coding result is obtained, and a mappingrelation between the second joint coding result and the number of ports,the pilot pattern, the pilot period, the sub-frame offset and the datamuting position that are in the CSI-RS configuration information isestablished, where the CSI-RS configuration information code sent to theUE is one of the second joint coding results.

When the network device supports the partial muting technology, and theCSI-RS configuration information not only includes the number of ports,the pilot pattern, the pilot period, the sub-frame offset and the datamuting position, but also includes the data muting period and the datamuting offset, joint coding is performed on the number of ports, thepilot pattern, the pilot period, the sub-frame offset, the data mutingposition, the data muting period and the data muting offset that are inthe CSI-RS configuration information, a third joint coding result isobtained, and a mapping relation between the third joint coding resultand the number of ports, the pilot pattern, the pilot period, thesub-frame offset, the data muting position, the data muting period andthe data muting offset that are in the CSI-RS configuration informationis established, where the CSI-RS configuration information code sent tothe UE is one of the third joint coding results.

In the method provided by this embodiment, because the CSI-RS ischaracterized by a small overhead, a long period, a high reuse factor,and low port pilot patterns nested in a high port pilot pattern, theCSI-RS configuration information is notified to the UE in the form ofthe CSI-RS configuration information code, so that the UE determines theCSI-RS configuration information according to the CSI-RS configurationinformation code, thus not only lowering the overhead, but also ensuringthat the CSI-RSs of multiple cells do not collide with each other.Further, if the network device supports the muting technology, theinformation such as the data muting position, the data muting period andthe data muting offset is notified to the UE, so that the CSI-RS isprevented from colliding with the data symbol sent by the stronginterfering cell.

Embodiment 3

Referring to FIG. 7, this embodiment provides a device for notifyingreference signal configuration information, where the device includes:

a coding module 701, configured to code, according to channel stateinformation-reference signal (CSI-RS) configuration information, theCSI-RS configuration information, to obtain a CSI-RS configurationinformation code, where the CSI-RS configuration information includes atleast the number of ports, a pilot pattern, a pilot period and asub-frame offset;

a storing module 702, configured to store a mapping relation between theCSI-RS configuration information code obtained by the coding module 701and the CSI-RS configuration information;

a first sending module 703, configured to send the mapping relationbetween the CSI-RS configuration information code and the CSI-RSconfiguration information to a user equipment (UE) for storage, wherethe mapping relation between the CSI-RS configuration information codeand the CSI-RS configuration information is stored by the storing module702;

a searching module 704, configured to determine CSI-RS configurationinformation to be notified, and search, in the mapping relation betweenthe CSI-RS configuration information code and the CSI-RS configurationinformation, for a CSI-RS configuration information code correspondingto the CSI-RS configuration information to be notified, where themapping relation between the CSI-RS configuration information code andthe CSI-RS configuration information is stored by the storing module702; and a second sending module 705, configured to send the CSI-RSconfiguration information code found by the searching module 704 to theUE, so that the UE determines CSI-RS configuration information accordingto the received CSI-RS configuration information code and the mappingrelation between the CSI-RS configuration information code and theCSI-RS configuration information, where the mapping relation between theCSI-RS configuration information code and the CSI-RS configurationinformation is stored by the UE.

Referring to FIG. 8, the coding module 701 includes:

a first coding unit 7011 a, configured to perform joint coding on thenumber of ports, the pilot pattern, the pilot period and the sub-frameoffset that are in the CSI-RS configuration information, to obtain afirst joint coding result; and

a first establishing unit 7011 b, configured to establish a mappingrelation between the first joint coding result obtained by the firstcoding unit 7011 a and the number of ports, the pilot pattern, the pilotperiod and the sub-frame offset that are in the CSI-RS configurationinformation, where

correspondingly, the CSI-RS configuration information code sent by thesecond sending module 705 is one of the first joint coding results.

Optionally, referring to FIG. 9, the coding module 701 includes:

a second coding unit 7012 a, configured to perform correlative coding onthe number of ports and the pilot pattern that are in the CSI-RSconfiguration information, to obtain a first coding result;

a second establishing unit 7012 b, configured to establish a mappingrelation between the first coding result obtained by the second codingunit 7012 a and the number of ports and the pilot pattern that are inthe CSI-RS configuration information;

a third coding unit 7013 a, configured to perform correlative coding onthe pilot period and the sub-frame offset that are in the CSI-RSconfiguration information, to obtain a second coding result; and

a third establishing unit 7013 b, configured to establish a mappingrelation between the second coding result obtained by the third codingunit 7013 a and the pilot period and the sub-frame offset that are inthe CSI-RS configuration information, where

correspondingly, the CSI-RS configuration information code sent by thesecond sending module 705 is any coding result in the first codingresults and any coding result in the second coding results.

In addition, when the device for notifying reference signalconfiguration information supports a data muting technology, the CSI-RSconfiguration information further includes a data muting position.

Correspondingly, referring to FIG. 10, the coding module 701 includes:

a fourth coding unit 7014 a, configured to perform joint coding on thenumber of ports, the pilot pattern, the pilot period, the sub-frameoffset and the data muting position that are in the CSI-RS configurationinformation, to obtain a second joint coding result; and

a fourth establishing unit 7014 b, configured to establish a mappingrelation between the second joint coding result obtained by the fourthcoding unit 7014 a and the number of ports, the pilot pattern, the pilotperiod, the sub-frame offset and the data muting position that are inthe CSI-RS configuration information, where

the CSI-RS configuration information code sent by the second sendingmodule 705 is one of the second joint coding results.

Optionally, referring to FIG. 11, the coding module 701 includes:

a second coding unit 7012 a, configured to perform correlative coding onthe number of ports and the pilot pattern that are in the CSI-RSconfiguration information, to obtain a first coding result;

a second establishing unit 7012 b, configured to establish a mappingrelation between the first coding result obtained by the second codingunit 7012 a and the number of ports and the pilot pattern that are inthe CSI-RS configuration information;

a third coding unit 7013 a, configured to perform correlative coding onthe pilot period and the sub-frame offset that are in the CSI-RSconfiguration information, to obtain a second coding result;

a third establishing unit 7013 b, configured to establish a mappingrelation between the second coding result obtained by the third codingunit 7013 a and the pilot period and the sub-frame offset that are inthe CSI-RS configuration information;

a fifth coding unit 7015 a, configured to code the data muting positionin the CSI-RS configuration information, to obtain a third codingresult; and

a fifth establishing unit 7015 b, configured to establish a mappingrelation between the third coding result obtained by the fifth codingunit 7015 a and the data muting position in the CSI-RS configurationinformation, where

the CSI-RS configuration information code sent by the second sendingmodule 705 is any coding result in the first coding results, any codingresult in the second coding results and any coding result in the thirdcoding results.

In addition, when the device for notifying reference signalconfiguration information further supports a partial data mutingtechnology, the CSI-RS configuration information further includes a datamuting position, a data muting period and a data muting offset.

Correspondingly, referring to FIG. 12, the coding module 701 includes:

a sixth coding unit 7016 a, configured to perform joint coding on thenumber of ports, the pilot pattern, the pilot period, the sub-frameoffset, the data muting position, the data muting period and the datamuting offset that are in the CSI-RS configuration information, toobtain a third joint coding result; and

a sixth establishing unit 7016 b, configured to establish a mappingrelation between the third joint coding result obtained by the sixthcoding unit 7016 a and the number of ports, the pilot pattern, the pilotperiod, the sub-frame offset, the data muting position, the data mutingperiod and the data muting offset that are in the CSI-RS configurationinformation, where

the CSI-RS configuration information code sent by the second sendingmodule 705 is one of the third joint coding results.

Optionally, referring to FIG. 13, the coding module 701 includes:

a second coding unit 7012 a, configured to perform correlative coding onthe number of ports and the pilot pattern that are in the CSI-RSconfiguration information, to obtain a first coding result;

a second establishing unit 7012 b, configured to establish a mappingrelation between the first coding result obtained by the second codingunit 7012 a and the number of ports and the pilot pattern that are inthe CSI-RS configuration information;

a third coding unit 7013 a, configured to perform correlative coding onthe pilot period and the sub-frame offset that are in the CSI-RSconfiguration information, to obtain a second coding result;

a third establishing unit 7013 b, configured to establish a mappingrelation between the second coding result obtained by the third codingunit 7013 a and the pilot period and the sub-frame offset that are inthe CSI-RS configuration information;

a fifth coding unit 7015 a, configured to code the data muting positionin the CSI-RS configuration information, to obtain a third codingresult;

a fifth establishing unit 7015 b, configured to establish a mappingrelation between the third coding result obtained by the fifth codingunit 7015 a and the data muting position in the CSI-RS configurationinformation;

a seventh coding unit 7017 a, configured to perform correlative codingon the data muting period and the data muting offset that are in theCSI-RS configuration information, to obtain a fourth coding result; and

a seventh establishing unit 7017 b, configured to establish a mappingrelation between the fourth coding result obtained by the seventh codingunit 7017 a and the data muting period and the data muting offset thatare in the CSI-RS configuration information, where

the CSI-RS configuration information code sent by the second sendingmodule 705 is any coding result in the first coding results, any codingresult in the second coding results, any coding result in the thirdcoding results and any coding result in the fourth coding results.

The second coding unit 7012 a is specifically configured to determine acorresponding relation between the number of ports and the pilot patternthat are in the CSI-RS configuration information, and perform jointcoding on or respectively code the number of ports and the pilot patternthat are in the CSI-RS configuration information according to thecorresponding relation.

The third coding unit 7013 a is specifically configured to determine acorresponding relation between the pilot period and the sub-frame offsetthat are in the CSI-RS configuration information, and perform jointcoding on or respectively code the pilot period and the sub-frame offsetthat are in the CSI-RS configuration information according to thecorresponding relation.

The seventh coding unit 7017 a is specifically configured to determine acorresponding relation between the data muting period and the datamuting offset that are in the CSI-RS configuration information, andperform joint coding on or respectively code the data muting period andthe data muting offset that are in the CSI-RS configuration informationaccording to the corresponding relation.

The fifth coding unit 7015 a is specifically configured to performcoding, in a bitmap manner, on the data muting position according to apilot pattern position in the CSI-RS configuration information.

The second sending module 705 is specifically configured to add a bitused to carry the CSI-RS configuration information code in a systeminformation block of a broadcast channel; or, use a remaining bit in amaster information block to carry the CSI-RS configuration informationcode in the broadcast channel; or, define a new system information blockused to carry the CSI-RS configuration information code in the broadcastchannel; or, use a unicast channel to carry the CSI-RS configurationinformation code.

To conclude, in the device for notifying reference signal configurationinformation provided by this embodiment, because the CSI-RS ischaracterized by a small overhead, a long period, a high reuse factor,and low port pilot patterns nested in a high port pilot pattern, theCSI-RS configuration information is notified to the UE in the form ofthe CSI-RS configuration information code, so that the UE determines theCSI-RS configuration information according to the CSI-RS configurationinformation code, thus not only lowering the overhead, but also ensuringthat the CSI-RSs of multiple cells do not collide with each other.Further, if the network device supports the muting technology, theinformation such as the data muting position, the data muting period andthe data muting offset is notified to the UE, so that the CSI-RS isprevented from colliding with the data symbol sent by the stronginterfering cell.

It should be noted that, when the device for notifying reference signalconfiguration information provided by the embodiment notifies thereference signal configuration information, the division of theforegoing functional modules is taken as an example for illustration. Inpractical application, different functional modules are allocated toimplement the foregoing functions according to requirements, that is,the internal structure of the device is divided into differentfunctional modules to implement all or part of the functions mentionedabove. In addition, the device and the method for notifying referencesignal configuration information provided by the foregoing embodimentsare based on the same concept, and for details of the specificimplementation process, reference may be made to the method embodiment,which are not repeatedly described here.

The sequence numbers of the foregoing embodiments of the presentinvention are merely for convenience of description, and do not implythe preference among the embodiments.

All or part of the steps according to the embodiments of the presentinvention may be implemented by hardware or by a program instructingrelevant hardware. The program may be stored in a readable storagemedium such as an optical disk or a hard disk.

The foregoing description is merely exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention, and is not intended to limit the present invention. Anymodification, equivalent replacement, and improvement made withoutdeparting from the spirit and principle of the present invention shallfall within the protection scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for obtaining reference signalconfiguration information, comprising: receiving, by a terminal device,channel state information-reference signal (CSI-RS) configuration codesfrom a base station, wherein the CSI-RS configuration codes comprise afirst code, a second code and a third code; determining, by the terminaldevice, a CSI-RS pattern according to a relationship between the firstcode, the number of antenna ports of the base station and the CSI-RSpattern stored in the terminal device; determining, by the terminaldevice, a CSI-RS period and a sub-frame offset according to arelationship between the second code, the CSI-RS period and thesub-frame offset stored in the terminal device; and determining, by theterminal device, a data muting position according to the third code. 2.The method according to claim 1, further comprising: determining, by theterminal device, a data muting period and a data muting offset accordingto the relationship between the second code, the CSI-RS period and thesub-frame offset.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the thirdcode is a bitmap.
 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the numberof bits in the bitmap is determined in accordance with the maximumnumber of CSI-RS patterns in an Orthogonal frequency-divisionmultiplexing (OFDM) symbol, and wherein the OFDM symbol carries any oneof: a serving cell CSI-RS, a muting range, and a muting CSI-RS pattern.5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: receiving, bythe terminal device, the number of antenna ports of the base stationthrough a higher layer signaling.
 6. The method according to claim 1,wherein at least one of the first code, the second code, and the thirdcode is received through a system information block in a broadcastchannel.
 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of thefirst code, the second code, and the third code is received through amaster information block in a broadcast channel.
 8. A terminal device,comprising a transceiver, a memory and a processor coupled with thetransceiver and the memory, wherein the transceiver is configured to:receive channel state information-reference signal (CSI-RS)configuration codes from a base station, wherein the CSI-RSconfiguration codes comprise a first code, a second code and a thirdcode; and the processor is configured to: determine a CSI-RS patternaccording to a relationship between the first code, the number ofantenna ports of the base station and the CSI-RS pattern stored in thememory, determine a CSI-RS period and a sub-frame offset according to arelationship between the second code, the CSI-RS period and thesub-frame offset stored in the memory, and determine a data mutingposition according to the third code.
 9. The terminal device accordingto claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to: determine adata muting period and a data muting offset according to therelationship between the second code, the CSI-RS period and thesub-frame offset stored in the memory.
 10. The terminal device accordingto claim 8, wherein the third code is a bitmap.
 11. The terminal deviceaccording to claim 10, wherein the number of bits in the bitmap isdetermined in accordance with the maximum number of CSI-RS patterns inan Orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol, and whereinthe OFDM symbol carries any one of: a serving cell CSI-RS, a mutingrange, and a muting CSI-RS pattern.
 12. The terminal device according toclaim 8, wherein the transceiver is further configured to: receive thenumber of antenna ports of the base station through a higher layersignaling.
 13. The terminal device according to claim 8, wherein atleast one of the first code, the second code, and the third code isreceived through a system information block in a broadcast channel. 14.The terminal device according to claim 8, wherein at least one of thefirst code, the second code, and the third code is received through amaster information block in a broadcast channel.
 15. An apparatus,comprising a processor coupled with a non-transitory storage mediumstoring executable instructions; wherein the executable instructions,when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: obtain channelstate information-reference signal (CSI-RS) configuration codes from asignaling received from a base station, wherein the CSI-RS configurationcodes comprise a first code, a second code and a third code; determine aCSI-RS pattern according to a relationship between the first code, thenumber of antenna ports of the base station and the CSI-RS pattern,determine a CSI-RS period and a sub-frame offset according to arelationship between the second code, the CSI-RS period and thesub-frame offset, and determine a data muting position according to thethird code.
 16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein theexecutable instructions, when executed by the processor, further causethe processor to: determine a data muting period and a data mutingoffset according to the relationship between the second code, the CSI-RSperiod and the sub-frame offset.
 17. The apparatus according to claim15, wherein the third code is a bitmap.
 18. The apparatus according toclaim 17, wherein the number of bits in the bitmap is determined inaccordance with the maximum number of CSI-RS patterns in an orthogonalfrequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol, and wherein the OFDMsymbol carries any one of: a serving cell CSI-RS, a muting range, and amuting CSI-RS pattern.
 19. The apparatus according to claim 15, whereinthe executable instructions, when executed by the processor, furthercause the apparatus to: obtain the number of antenna ports of the basestation from a higher layer signaling received from the base station.20. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein at least one of thefirst code, the second code, and the third code is received through asystem information block in a broadcast channel.